Hood cap applying machine



Oct. 26, 1937. J. H. NELSON HOOD CAP APPLYING MACHINE Filed March 24, 1953' 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 JOHMH NESO/V.

Oct.'2 6, 1937. J. H. NELSON 2,097,076

HOOD CAP APPLYING MACHINE Filed Marc'h 24, 1933 a Sheets-Sheet s gal Z JOHN H NELSON Z9 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 J. H. NELSON HQODCAP APPLYING MACHINE I Filed March 24, 1933 I372 /Z 5 I) razor". f

Oct. 26,1937.

Oct. 26, 1937. J. H} NELSON 2,097,076

noon c APf APPLYING mcams Filed flgrch 24, less 8' Sheets-Sheet 5 noon CAP -APPLYING MACHINE l I 1 @161 5, W 6% a 60 67.9

JOHN 755207 @Q W Oct. 26, 1937. J. H. NELSON 2,097,076 I HOOD CAP APPLYING MACHINE FiledMarch 24, 1933 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 172067120? JOHN H/VELSO/V.

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Patented Oct. 26; 1937 sr'ras ATENT OFFICE ard Cap and Carper-anon, Ohicago, corporation oi '1":

Application March 24, 1933", Serial No. 662,515

This invention relates to hood cap applying machines, and more particularly pertains to such a machine for applying hood caps of thin flexible material to containers.

One object of the invention is to provide such a machine that will form the hood caps from blanks over the necks of bottles passing through the machine, and secure the caps thereon. Also, wherein the cap blanks are fed to the capping mechanism, instead of feeding the caps thereto like in the ordinary capping machine. Another object of the invention is to provide such a ma= chine having a plurality of connected cap forming and applying heads, each having means for positioning a cap blank, and the heads being arranged to move continuously in a common endless path; wherein'the machine will include means for placing bottles into cooperative relation with the capping heads to be capped during a part of said movement of the heads; and wherein the cap blanks are fed to the heads from a coon source of supply. I

In carrying out one embodiment of the inven tion, the form disclosed has principally to do with the capping of milk bottles of standard form or the like, wherein the bottles have a protuberance, such as a bead about the necksthereof. In securing the hood caps on such bottles, the can applying or securing means associated with the capping heads includes mechanism for securing a binder band about the skirt of a hood can directly under the bead about the mouth of the bottle upon the cap being formed thereover. It is thereforeanother object of the invention to provide such a. machine wherein the binder bands are fed to the band securing mechanism of the capping heads from a common source of supply as the heads travel in their endless path in the machine.

Although the present form of the invention is concerned with the capping of milk bottles, it is not intended that the invention is to be so limited;

Other objects and advantages will become apparent by reference to the specification, claims and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. '1 is a plan view of the complete capping machine with the right hand half of the figure comprising a plan section of Fig. 2, as may be taken on the section line I--l of said figure.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the right hand half of the machine with some parts in section, parts broken away and some parts being omitted.

' Fig. 3 is a vertical section ofa portion of the machine as may be taken on the section line 3-4 of Fig. 2, with parts being broken away.

Fig. 4 is a plan section of a. portion of theme..- chine as may be taken substantially on the sec-' tion line d-t oi Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken substantially on the section line 5-5 of Fig. 4. 5 Fig. 6 is an enlarged iront viewof the lower half portion of one of the capping heads showing the neck portion of a bottle inserted therein, and with someparts being broken away.

Fig. 7 is a side view of Fig. 6 with parts in section and parts broken away.

Fig. 8' is a plan section taken substantially on the section line t--% of Fig. '7, showing a portion of the capping head in cooperative relation with a part of the binder bandfeeding means of the machine.

Fig. 9 is a vertical section of a capping head showing the neck portion of a bottle inserted therein, the view being taken generally on the section line e-@ of Fig. 8. v

Fig. 10 is a view similar. to Fig. 8 with parts in changed position, parts added and parts omitted.

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10 with parts in changed position and parts broken away.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 8, but showing 5 the complete bottom portion of the capping head and more of the band feeding means, also the parts being irrchanged position to that as seen in Fig. 8. Further, the view being a. plan section taken substantially on the section line lZ-l2 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 13 is a front elevation of the parts seen in Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged detail section taken on the section line |4--Il of Fig. 12.

Fig. 15 is a side elevation of certain parts of Fig. 12 as indicated by the arrow l 5 of said figure.

Fig. 16 is a detail view of certain parts of Fig. 13.

Fig. 17 is an enlarged side view of the cap blank feeding means seen in Fig. 2 with parts in changed position.

Fig. 18 is a plan view of Fig. 17 showing parts of the capping head in cooperative relation with the blank feeding means.

Fig. 19 is a section taken on the section line i9--l9 of Fig. 18.

Fig. 20 is a. vertical section taken on the section line 2020 of Fig. 18.

Fig. 21 is a vertical section taken on the section line ii-2i of Fig. 18.

Fig. 22 is a plan section taken on the section line 22-22 of Fig. 19 with parts added and parts in changed position.

Fig. 23 is a side view of a portion of the binder band material in strip form from which the bands are cut.

Fig. 24 is a side view of a binder band.

Fig. 25 is a perspective of the neck portion of a bottle with the hood cap applied thereon.

The capping machine disclosed is of the rotary type, and since the cap applying mechanism of this invention is shown as applied to container or bottle conveying means which are well known in the art, in describing the machine embodying the invention, I will first dwell somewhat briefly on the bottle conveying means with a general description of the capping mechanism, regarding its cooperative relation with said means.

As best seen in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the bottle conveying means includes a continuously moving feed belt I, in the form of a sprocket chain having cleated links. The upper stretch of the belt is supported horizontally to move toward the center of the machine, upon spaced side rails 2 mounted at their ends and at the discharge end of the belt, on an upright bracket 3 mounted on the base 4, the outer ends of the rails being suitably mounted on the base in a similar manner. The feed belt chain passes over an idler sprocket 5 mounted on a stub shaft 6 suitably mounted rotatably in bearings at the outer ends of the guide rails, and at its discharge end the chain passes over a drive sprocket i mounted on a driven horizontal shaft 8 rotatably mounted in four spaced bearings 9 on the upright bracket 3. Adjustably mounted on the rails are guide bars in on each side of the belt for guiding the bottles to be conveyed thereon.

I The filled botles II are placed on the feed belt' at the left end of the machine, as seen in Fig. 1,

whereupon they are carried on the belt into cooperative relation with means for spacing the bottles properly on the belt. The spacing of the bottles is regulated by a six-pointed star wheel l2 disposed'horizontally to one side of the feed belt so that normally a point thereof extends into the path of the bottles to be turned thereby inpassing, said star wheel being mounted on a stub shaft l4 rotatably mounted in a bearing l5 at the end of an extended arm l6 of the bracket 3. After passing said star wheel and on reaching the feed belt discharge end, a bottle becomes engaged in a pocket H in the periphery of four pointed, continuously rotating star wheel i8 disposed horizontally above and to one side of the belt discharge end, and comprising spaced sections l8a and l8b. The star wheel i8 is mounted on a vertical shaft. l9 rotatably mounted in bearings 20 on the bracket 3. Upon a quarter turn of the star wheel IS in a counter-clockwise direction, the bottle is transferred from the feed belt onto a turntable 2| whose top surface is in the plane of the feed belt, the bottle being guided onto the table by the curved end portion 22 of the outer guide bar l0, and supported on a shelf 23 extending between the belt and the table.

The turntable is mounted on a vertical shaft 24 rotatably mounted at its lower end in a bearing 25 on the base 4, and at its top end is rotatably mounted in a bearing 26 at the hub of a spider frame 21 mounted spaced above the table on the top ends of four vertical uprights 28- spaced about the table and mounted on the base. During transferring a bottle onto the turntable, the star wheel I8 is locked for holding a succeedihg bottle to properly position same. with respect to the transfer star wheel, wherein the star wheel l2 has a six-pointed ratchetwheel 29 thereunder on its hub which is engaged by a pawl W on i bracket portion l6, and which is operated by a cam 3| on the star wheel shaft l9 at each quarter turn of the star wheel l8.

Upon being transferred onto the turntable, which is caused to turn continuously in a clockwise direction as viewed in plan, the bottles are positioned upon vertically reciprocable bottle supports 35 in the form of hollow cylindrical plungers of which there are six equally spaced about the axis of the turntable, and which are reciprocably mounted in bearings 36 in the table. On receiving the bottles thereon, the support plungers are in lowered position with their closed top ends level with the table, whereupon as the table is turned, the plungers are moved to raised position, causing the bottles to be raised into cooperative relation with capping heads 31 mounted on and about the central support head 38 which is in turn mounted for vertical adjustment on the turntable shaft, there being a capping head disposed above each support plunger. The support plungers are held in raised position during about one-half revolution of the table, during which time the capping heads are caused to apply the hood caps on the bottles on said plungers. After being capped, the bottles are lowered by the plungers out of cooperative relation with the capping heads shortly before returning to bottle receiving station, and are then transferred onto the upper stretch of a bottle discharge belt 39, whose upper stretch extends in parallelism with the feed belt and spaced from the side of the table in level relation therewith. Partially surrounding the turntable, is a shelf 48 suitably mounted on the uprights, over which the bottles pass in being transferred to the discharge belt. The transferring of the bottles from the table to the discharge belt is effected by a four pointed star wheel 4| whose points pass over the table and belt, and which is mounted on a shaft 42 suitably mounted rotatable in bearings of the bracket 3. An arcuate guide bar 43 is provided to cooperate with the star wheel 4| in transferring the bottles. The discharge belt is of the same type as the feed belt, wherein it passes over an idler sprocket 44 at its discharge end and at its receiving end it passes over a drive sprocket 45 mounted on theouter end of the shaft 8. The shaft 8 is in driven connection with the star wheel shaft !9 through suitable gearing 4B, and also in driving connection with the shaft 42 of the star wheel 4| through suitable gearing 41. Said gearing is so arranged to efiect the proper timing of the elements controlled thereby.

The bottle transferring star wheel I8 is driven in timed relation with the turntable by means of a spur gear 48 mounted on its shaft l9, and which is in mesh with the spur gear 49 mounted on the bottom end of the turntable shaft under the base 4. The turntable is driven by an electric motor 50 on the base, which, through the intermediation of the pulley and belt connection 5|, is in suitable driving connection with the horizontal shaft 52 under the base, on whose end is a worm 53 in meshing engagement with the worm wheel 54 on the bottom end of the turntable shaft.

The bottle support plungers are raised and lowered as they travel with the table by a cam track 55 of arcuateform mounted on the base which end is a roller 58 for engaging the cam track.

The'capping heads and instrumentalities con trolling theiroperation will now be described."

Said cappirm heads include a cap forming die head 60 mounted at the bottom end of a depending bracket BI secured at its toptothe.

central support head 38, said die head is built up of three connected horizontal plates 62, 83 and 64 comprising the top or shelf plate, the midplate and the bottom plate respectively. Thebottom plate has a slightly depressed top surface portion 65 adjacent the mid-plate to form a cap blank receiving recessor slot 68 open toward the direction of travel of the head for supporting a substantially square cap blank 61 of thin flexible material, such as Cellophane, centrally over a bottle upon its being positioned on a support plunger thereunder, at which position of the bottle said die head is in spaced relation thereabove, and in cooperative relation with a cap blank feeding device for receiving a blank in the recess thereof, said device being generally indicated at $8. In the recess is a leaf spring sea which lightly holds the blank. 1n the die head is a vertical bore 59 extending through the plates coaxial with the bottle support plunger, and

- through which bore the neck of a bottle h pro jected when raised on the plunger. Below the blank receiving recess, the bore is outwardly flared, as at ill, for guiding the neck of a bottle therein, and in the wall of the bore just above the cap recess are upwardly converging flutes it for cooperating to form the cap blank about the bottle neck as same is projected through the bore carrying the blank therewith, whereupon the blank is then formed over the bottle neck and assumes the shape of a hood cap 712, as seen in Fig. 9. Upon being projected into the bore of the die head, the bottle is held non-rotatable therein and positioned so that it extends above the die head with the skirt of the hood cap formed thereover slmhtly extended into the top end of the bore, whereby its shape is maintained by mechanism which will now be described.

Above the die head, coaxial with the bore therein, is a hollow spindle it rotatably mounted at its top end portion in .a bearing IE3 on the bracket 6|. Mounted on the bottom end of the spindle, so as to be relatively rotatable with respect thereto, is an inverted cup shaped head 75 spaced above the die head, and within whose cupped opening Hi the neck of a bottle projected through the die head is snugly received for forming the hood cap tightly over the edge or lip about the mouth of the bottle, and whereby the bottle is held central in the die head bore. For mounting the cupped head, said head has a hollow sleeve portion ll projecting in the bottom end of the bore of the spindle and which has an annular groove 18 at its top end into which extends a set screw I8 threaded in the spindle wall for holding the sleeve immov able axially. A thrust ball bearing 80 is interposed between the bottom end of the spindle and 'the cupped head so that the spindle can rotate while the cupped head is held stationary by engagement with a bottle. .Within the sleeve 11 of the cupped head is rotatably and slidably mounted a sleeve 8| at the bottom end of which is mounted a bottle engaging disc shaped abutment head 82, snugly receivable in the cupped head but normally spring pressed downward to a position just above the cap receiving recess or the die head, as seen in dot and dash lines in Fig. 9. The abutment head is resiliently held in lowered position by a coiled compression spring 88 located in the sleeve of the head and interposed between'said head and the closed top end 84 of the sleeve ll of the cupped head. Extending upward from the abutment head is a stem- 85 which projects slidably through the top end of the sleeve 1'1 and at the top end of which is a cap portion 86 for engaging the sleeve end 88 in limiting the downward movement of the head. The abutment head is thus caused to clamp or hold the cap blank on the top of a. bottle being projected through the die head whereby the blank is held centrally located on the bottle neck while it is being formed thereover. on the bottom of the abutment head is a rubber rim 8? for securely gripping the blank. Thus the abutment head limits, the upward movement of a bottle projecting through the die head and also holds same from turning therein.

The raising of a bottle on a support plunger into cooperative relation with a capping head, causing the formation of a hood cap thereon, occurs during about one-eighth of a revolution of the turntable;-

Associated with the capping heads is means, operable upon a bottle being positioned therein,

for wrapping a binder band about the smrt oi the hood cap formed on the bottle, at which position or station of a capping head during its travel with the table by the following means. To this end, a stub shaft fit extends upward from the spindle in which it is fixedly mounted and on which in turn is mounted a spur gear ti meshing with a spur gear 92, of equal size, rotatably j mounted on a stub shaft @3 secured on the bracket ti. During travel of the capping headwith the table, after a bottle is positioned therein, the gear 92 is caused to mesh with, successively, the arouate gear segments 98, stand .96 mounted on the periphery of, and concentric with, a disc shaped support 91 mounted stationary on the vbearing portion 26 of the spider frame. The gear segments are so proportioned whereby, on one complete revolution of the turntable, the spindle is caused to make two complete revolutions in a with gear segments, the gear 92 is locked, for holding the spindle stationary, by means of the Geneva lock ring 98 mounted on the support 81 above the gear segments, which is engaged on its periphery by a four pointed star wheel 88 mounted on the hub of said gear. In the periphery of the ring are recesses I88, 5M. and I82 respectively located above the gear segments 84, 95 and 96 for permittingthe star wheel 89 to turn when its respective segments.

Associated with each capping head is means for positioning a binder band in cooperativerela -ion with the twister head, so that upon its rotation. the band 15 apped about the hood cap. Said means includes a b nd engaging clamp I88 on the shelf plate 62 of the die head, and which .counter-clockwise-direction. when not in mesh gear is in mesh with gear comprises an upright jaw I 04 mounted stationary on the plate near its outer edge and parallel with the axis of the table and the die head bore. Cooperating with the stationary jaw is a movable jaw I05 confined for oscillatable movement vertically within the slot I06 in the shelf plate and extending outward from the stationary jaw. The movable jaw is pivotally mounted on, so as to be operated-by, a horizontal pin I01 slidably mounted in the bearing bore I08 in the shelf intercepting the slot I08, and wherein the pin extends through a bore I 09 in the jaw in which there are helical keys H0, see Fig. 9, received in the helical grooves III in the pin, whereby the jaw is operated by reciprocation of the pin. The pin extends beyond the edge of the shelf and has on its outer end, a cievis I I2 to which is pivotally connected one end of a horizontal lever H3 centrally fulcrumed at II4 on the shelf plate, which lever is operated by cam means associated with the twister head for moving the pin controlling the movable jaw in releasing same from clamping engagement with the stationary jaw. A compression spring H5 surrounds the pin and is interposed between the clevis thereon and the plate edge for resiliently urging the pin outward in holding the movable jaw in open position.

In general, the cap binder band feeding device includes a feeder head IIG which positions a strip ill, from which the bandsare cut, in a horizontal plane and so that the end I Ila thereof is held projected tangentially in the path of the stationary jaw of theclamp and in the direction of travel of the capping head, as best seen in Figs. 8 and 12. When theprojected strip end is engaged by the stationary jaw during travel of the capping head, the lever H3 is operated to cause the closing of the movable jaw in clamping said strip end to the stationary jaw, whereupon, on continued movement of the capping head, the strip is drawn from the band feeder head, as best understood by reference to Fig. 12. Extending rearwardly of the die head and disposed in the plane of the path of the stationary jaw, is a horizontal arcuate segment II8 mounted on the bracket GI, and whose arcuate edge is concentric with the table axis, and describes an'arc substantially intersecting the stationary jaw. In the arcuate edge of said segment is a dovetailed groove I20 in which is received the band strip as it is being drawn from the band feeder head. At the trailing end of the segment I I8 is a cutter device I2I, later described, which is caused to out the strip at said end when same reaches the position the capping head assumes as indicated in dot and dash lines in Fig. 12. The cutter device is so located with respect to the clamp whereby, on the cutting of the strip, the binder band I22 is thus formed and supported in the groove of the arcuate segment and held at its forward end in the clamp, the band being of the proper length so as to be wrappable about a hood cap with projected crossed ends, as seen in Fig. 25.

' The cutter device I2I includes a verticall movable lever I 23 fulcrumed at I24 on the boss I25 of a bracket E26 mounted on the arcuate segment. The lever projects outward and has a depending knife I21 which cooperates with a stationary knife I28 at the end of the band supporting groove when the lever is operated. A coiled sprin'g i253 surrounds said hose with its ends respectively connected to the cutter lever and said bracket for resiliently holding the lever raised with the knife thereon above th pa h the band strip. The cutter lever is operated by a cam I30 which is engaged by a roller I3I on the end of the lever when same reaches the position it is shown in dotted line in Fig. 12, the cam being mounted on a bracket I32 secured to the side of a feeder support head I33 mounted on the top of a vertically adjustable pedestal I34 secured on the base of the machine.

Upon the positioning of a band in a capping head, the twister head is operated to wrap same about the hood cap on the bottle positioned in the head. The twister head includes a sleeve I39 mounted slidable on the bottom end of the spindle and being connected to rotate therewith by means of the key and keyway connection I40 therebetween. Secured to the side of the sleeve is a depending bracket I H having a bottom end I42 formed arcuate and concentric with the axis of the spindle, and which arcuate end extends close to the top surface of the die head. Located at the leading end of the arcuate segment is a grooved roller I43 disposed normally in the plane of the arcuate segment I I8, so as to be in engageable relation with a band held in the clamp, and being fulcrumed on a pin M4 depending from the twister bracket. Located normally in advance of the roller I43 and in the plane thereof, is a tension roller I45 pivotally mounted at the bottom end of a normally depending rocker arm I46 fulcrumed at I41 on the twister bracket. The rocker arm is urged in a turning direction for holding the roller thereon in engagement with the roller I43, by means of a tension spring I48 whose ends are respectively connected to said 'bracket and the arm. As a bottle is being raised into the die head, the spindle is held stationary with the twister segment initially positioned so that the rollers thereon are considerably in ad- Vance of the clamp in clearing the projected end of the band strip when same is being positioned in the clamp, in which position said parts are illustrated in Figs. 6, 7, and 8. On the twister segment is a cam rise i'49 which, during the initial position of the twister bracket, engages a roller I50 at the free end of the jaw control lever H3 for causing same to hold the movable jaw of the clamp in open position preparatory to clamping the projected and of the band strip.

.At the position of the-capping head where the stationary jaw of the clamp engages the projected end of the band strip, in the band feeder head, as seen in Fig. 8, the spindle is rotated one-quarter of a revolution by the engagement of its operating gear 92 with the short gear segment 94, to the position the parts are shown in Fig. 12,.whereby the jaw lever is operated to cause the movable jaw to clamp the projected band strip end. On continued movement of the capping head, the band strip is thus drawn from the band feeder device until cut to proper length by the cutter device. On continued movement of the capping head after a binder band has been positioned therein, its spindle operating gear 92 is brought into mesh'with the gear segment 95, causing the spindle to make one and one-quarter revolutions, whereby the twisterhead is caused to wrap the binder band about the hood cap. skirt and directly below the bead I5I about the mouth of the bottle, whereupon the twister head reaches its position seen in Fig. 11. During the turning of the twister head in wrapping the band about the cap, the tension roller supporting arm is operated to raise said roller so that it clears the band projected end in crossing thereover as the stationary roller of the head engages the band end, in which position the parts are seen in Fig. 12. Having crossed over the band end,

the tension roller is lowered to hold the band wrapped about the cap, the trailing end of the band is received so as to be supported in a dovetailed groove I55 in the periphery of the arcuate segment of the twister head. Projecting into the path of the segmentalgroove on turning of the twister head, is a spring finger I55 mounted on the bracket 6! for forcing the trailing band portion therein.

During the wrapping of the band about the cap, the twister head is caused to be raised so that the rollers thereoi will ride over the end of the hand held in the clamp, then again lowered after passing thereover, whereby the band is wrapped about the cap with its ends crossed, at which position the twister head is seen in Fig. 11. This raising of the twister head also causes the cam thereon to control the movable jaw operating lever, whereby the band end is maintained held in the clamp. For thus raising the twister head, a yoke lever is provided, which is ful-' crumed on a pin list extending from the bracket 68, and whose yoke portions are provided with opposed rollers 45d engaged in a grooved collar i553 secured on the twister head sleeve, said yoke lever-being operated at the proper station of the capping head for raising the twister head, by a cam lei mounted on one of the frame uprights, and which is engaged by a roller ltlfi on the end of the outer yoke portion of the lever.

By means associated with the binder band feeding device, later described, a thin film of moist adhesive is applied to the side of the binder band facing the capping head as it is drawn from said device, for causing the band to adhere to a cap and for joining same at its ends crossed thereover, said adhesive film being shown. as applied to the band at E53, see Fig. 24, wherein the film extends to within a short distance from the ends of the band.

After the twister head has wrapped the band about the cap so that its ends are crossed and held by the rollers of the head and the clamp, see Fig. ll, the twister head is temporarily held so that the band will adhere to the cap and join at its crossed ends. To insure'joining of the crossed ends of the band, a horizontally disposed plunger bar 865 is mounted slldable in a guideway let in the twister-head arcuate portion so as to extend radial of the die head bore axis. At the inner end of the plunger bar is a presser foot lb'l which, upon inward movement oi the bar, engages the band at its crossed end portions, the bar being operated by engagement at its outer end with a spring cam led mounted on the arcuate cam portion 852, and the bar being held resiliently in retracted position by a coiled spring N59 disposed in a recessed portion lid of the bar guideway, wherein one end of the spring engages a lug ill on the bar.-

After the twister head has been held temporarily stationary, causing the securing oi the band on the cap, its spindle operating gear d2 engages the arcuate gear segment 96, which causes the spindle to turn one-half of a revalutlon, which returns the twister head to its initial position, as seen in Fig. 8.. Upon the return of the twister head to its initial position, the clamp is thus opened to release the band from its connection with theoapping head, whereupon the botttle is lowered on the support plunger and out of cooperative relation with the head to be transferred onto the bottle discharge belt of the machine.

For preventing the feeding of a band to the capping head in the event a bottle is not positioned therein during its travel with the table, the clamp controlling lever H3 is locked from operating the movable jaw 01' the clp. To this end, said lever is provided with a projection H15 at its free end which is adapted to engage a vertically positioned rod i'lli slidably mounted at its bottom end in a bearing ill in the top plate or the die head, and whose top end is pivotally connected to the free end of an oting arm H8 fulcrumed on the bracket ti at are. When a bottle is inserted into the die head, it causes the rod to move to raised position by operating the lever or arm controlling same, whereby, as the twister head is initially turned, the clamp oper= ating lever is released with its projected end portion passing through a slot ltd in the side of the rod, thus allowing the clamping of the band end.

ably mounted in the bore of the spindle 'just shove cupped head sleeve, which plunger is fixedly connected to a collar l8? slidably mounted on the spindle and in which is a peripheral groove for receiving a roller 883 on the side of the rod control lever, the plunger and collar being connected by the screws ltd extending radially of the plunger and which extend through slots 8% in the wall of the spindle. For resiliently connecting' the plunger to the abutment head so as to be operated by the insertion of a bottle in the die head, the stem of the abutment head extends into the bore of the plunger and is resiliently connected therewith to cause the raising thereof, by means of a compression spring ltd disposed in the bore oi the plunger and interposed between the top end of the stem and the top end of the plunger. The plunger is held in lowered position on lowering of the abutment head, by an inner shoulder formation it? in the bottom of its bore which is engaged by the shoulder I88 about the cap on the abutment head stem. Thus upon initial upward movement of the abutment head by engagement with a bottle, the locking rod is moved to raised position, as seen in full lines in Fig. 9, and which elements are shown in their lowered positions in dot and dash lines in said figure.

The cap blank feeding device will now be described. On the feeder support head. Hi3 isan upstanding bracket ltd across whose top end is a shaft Hill on which is irictionally rotatably mounted a reel 392 containing a supply roll of cap blank material 693 in strip form. The strip material is drawn from the reel and is guided horizontally in the plane of the cap receiving recesses station at which the bottles are positioned on the table and under the heads, within the guideway 20l of a blank strip guide head 202. The guide head is elongated horizontally and is supported at its inner discharge end 203 and at its outer receiving end 204 on the spaced parallel support extensions 205 and 206 respectively, of the feeder support head. Extending along the front side of the guide head is a guide bar 20'! mounted at its ends on the support extensions of the support head, and on which guide bar is slidably mounted a strip feeder cross-head 208 which projects under the guide head. The feeder cross-head has upright front and rear end portions M80 and 2138b respectively forming bearings in which are 08-- cillatably, the ends of a horizontal shaft 269 ex tending directly over and across the guide-head. Mounted on the crosshead shaft are two spaced strip gripper fingers are which project through elongated longitudinal slots 2H in the top portion of the guide-head to engage the strip material so as to feed same on reciprocation of the feeder cross-head. In the bottom portion of the guide-head below the guideway, are slots 2l2 in register with the slots in the upper portion of the head, and in which are slidably received the raised grip portions 2 [3V of the cross-head for cooperating with the gripper fingers in feeding the strip.

The cross-head is reciprocated and the gripper fingers operated to feed the strip material, through the intermediation of a driver head Md mounted reciprocable on the guide bar and located back of the feeder cross-head. An operable connection is eiiected between said heads by means of an upright lever 2&5 mounted on the cross-head gripper shaft, and whose free end is pivotally connected at 2M3 to one end of a connecting link 29? whose other end is pivotally connected at 2H5 to the driver head. Thus as the driver head is moved forward, by driving means later described, the gripper shaft is turned clockwise to apply the grippers, whereupon the cross-head is caused to move forward therewith in feeding the strip mate-= rial into the path of the cap blank recess of an approaching capping head. Upon the return stroke of the driver head, the gripper fingers are proper amount, by means later described, in order that the strip material is intermittently fed the exact amount required to form a cap blank to be positioned in the blank recess of a capping head.

For holding the strip material in fedposition on the return stroke of the driver head, a shaft 220 extends crosswise over the rear end of the 7 guide head, being oscillatably mounted at its ends spectively connected at its ends to the shaft and one of its bearings.

Associated with the strip guide head is a blank forming die device 230, which is operated upon the return stroke of the driver head .to cut opposed V shaped cutouts 23l and 232 in opposite sides of the strip material portion positioned in the guideway of thehead. Thus the cut-outs are so spaced on the strip to form some into connected blank sections 233, the sections being fed to extend projected from the discharge end of the guide head to be cut from the strip at said end upon being received in the blank recess of a capping head. Said die device is in the form of a press which includes a plunger head 234 mounted on the lower end of a plunger shaft 235 reciprocably mounted in a bearing 236 on the bracket 23'! secured on the feeder support head. Under the plunger head are mounted male dies 238 and 239 which respectively cooperated with the female die portions 240 and 244 in 'the bottom portion of the strip guideway in forming the cut-outs, when the plunger is operated. For operating the plunger shaft of the die device, said shaft has a lateral slot 242 in its side in which is received the crank pin extension 288 at the end of a horizontal shaft 244 oscillatably mounted in a bearing 255 of the bracket 281. On the outer end of said shaft is mounted a depending trigger finger 246 on whose upward extended top end is connected the bottom end of a vertically disposed tension spring 2M whose top end is connected to the bracket 23'5. The trigger finger is thus held, resiliently by the spring, depending in the path of a pin 268 projecting from the side of the connecting link of the driver head, whereupon as said link is moved rearward on the return stroke of the driver head, the trigger finger is operated to turn the crank pin shaft clockwise, causing the lowering of the plunger shaft and the operation of the forming dies. On the forward or feeding stroke of the driver head, no cutting operation is effected by the dies, for the reason that the upper dies are merely raised during said stroke.

For holding the end cap blank portion of the strip material projecting beyond the discharge end of the guide head, so as to be suspended in the path of the cap blank recess of an approaching capping head, the feeder crosshead has a forward arm extension 256 in parallel relation with the guide bar, and which projects beyond the guide head discharge end into an upright end portion 26E on which is mounted a clamp 252 for clamping and holding the blank portion at its outer corner toward an approaching capping head. The clamp comprises two movable jaws 253 and 264 positioned respectively above and below the plane of the strip guideway of the guide head, so that their law ends'may grip the end of the blank portion on initial feeding movement of the feeder head. The upper Jaw is mounted on a pin 28! oscillatable in a bearing on the upright bar end, and the lower jaw is pivotally mounted at 256 to said arm end, the Jaws being operably connected to operate in unison, by means of the gear connection 257 between their pivoted ends, The Jews are operated to clamp the blank portion upon the initial forward movement of the driver head, through the intermediation of a lever 258, depending from the upper jaw pivot pin, and whose free end is pivotaily connected to one end of a link 258 which is pivotally connected at its other end on the pivotal connection 2l8 of the driver head. The driver head has a feeding stroke slightly greater than the amount required to feed the strip material the amount oi-cap blank portion, for the reason that, during its stroke, its slight initial movement causes the application of the crosshead gripper fingers and the clamp; then con-- tinued movement causes the feeding of the strip material the amount of a. blank; at which position the head dwells temporarily until the fed blank portion is positioned in the blank recess of a capping head, at which point the driver head continues to move slightly forward to the end of its stroke, causing the release of the grippers and the clamp and also effecting the operation of a cutter apparatus 260 at the discharge end of the guide head for cutting the blank portion from the strip,

in which position the parts are shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In carrying out the foregoing functions of the driver head, it is reciprocated by power means, later described, through the intermediation of a horizontally positioned lever 26f located under the guide head and fulcrurned at one end on a pin 262 depending from said head. The lever is connected to reciprocate the driver head through a link 263, whose one end is pivotally connected to the free end of the lever, and whose other end is pivotally connected to the head at 264. At the free end of the lever is a cam projection 255 which, at the end of the feeding stroke of the driver head, engages a. roller 2% under the feeder cross head, causing same to move slightly in advance of the driver head to efiect the releasing of the grippers and the clamp associated therewith, also, this advance movement of the feeder head causes the operation of the cutter apparatus.

The cutter apparatus 268 comprises a movably mounted knife 26?, located below the plane of strip guideway of the guide head and across its discharge end so that the cutting edge 268 of the knife is normally positioned slightly below the end of the guideway, and inregister between the opposed V cut-outs of the strip material forming the fed blank portion. The knife is mounted on a vertical slide 269 reciprocablymounted in a bracket, and on which shaft is a lever 2'57? whose free end is in pivotal connection with the knife slide for raising the knife thereon in cutting the strip when the lever 214i is operated'by the cam.

Through means now to be described, the driver head operating lever- 26l is operably connected with the bottle feed star wheel shaft 89, so as to cause the feeding of a cap blank upon each quarter turn of said star wheel, whereupon a blank is positioned in each capping head upon the placing of a bottle thereunder. Mounted on the shaft it below the feeder star wheel, is a cam whee 286, which operates a lever 28!, on whose free end is a roller 282 for engaging the cam. Said lever is in spline connection with a vertical shaft 283, rotatably and sl-idably mounted at its lower end in a bearing 28d on the side of the pedestal it, and whose top end is rotatably mounted in a bearing 2&5 on the feeder support head. On the top end of said shaft is a horizontal lever 286, having a sliding pivotal con- The cam wheel is formed with four uniform cam sections 290, each section comprising a cam depression 25" which, upon rotation of the star wheel associated therewith, causes the return and feeding stroke of the driver head in positioning a cap blank in cooperative relation with a capping headand following said cam portion isacam dwell portion 292 which causes the driver head to dwell so that the fed cap blank is held positioned in the path of the blank recess of the capping head when approaching. Following the cam dwell portion, between same and the depressed cam portion of each cam section, is a short cam rise 293, which causes the driver head to be moved slightly for= ward to the limit of its feeding stroke, which effects the cutting of the cap blank portion positioned in a capping head recess, and the releasing of same from the gripping means of the feeding device.

In the event a bottle is not positioned in a pocket of the bottle transfer star wheel, means are provided whereby the blank feeder device is rendered inoperative in preventing a cap blank from being fed to the capping head approaching the wheel. Said means includes a horizontally disposed bell-crank lever 295 pivotaily mounted at its elbow on an upright pin 296 lo- "cated to one side of the feed belt, and mounted on an extension as? of the upright bracket 3. One and 298 of the'bell-crank extends normally in the direction of travel of the feed belt, and is held projected resiliently into the-path of a bottle at the discharge end of the belt, by a tension spring 299 connected with the other arm of the bell-crank, and is also movable between the spaced sections of the feeder star wheel. The other arm of the "bell-crank extends rearward with a hook formation 3% at its end which is adapted to engage a projection 309 on the cam operated lever 2M in the event a bottle is not present at the discharge end of the feed belt to deflect the bell-crank, and whereby said lever is held from being operated by the cam and thus preventing the operation of the blank feeder device.

In order that no jerky turning motion is imparted to the supply reel m2, during intermittent feeding of the blank strip material, the strip passes from the reel over an idler roll 365 at the lower end-of depending lever 36%, fulcrumed at its top end on the reel support bracket are;

and which is urged outwardly by a tension spring 3t! suitably connected to the lever and the bracket. Thus as the strip material is fed, the jerky motion is taken up by the lever which also serves to maintain constant rotary motion of the supply reel. Above the receiving end of the guide head is also a roll 308, under which the strip material passes from the idler roll into the guideway of the head. I

The binder band feeding device 83, including its feeder head H6 and instrumentalities controlling its operation, will now be described. Frictionaliy mounted on the supply reel shaft isi and on the side of its support bracket opposite the blank strip supply reel, is a reel 88d containing a roll of the strip material it? from which the bands are out. From thercel, the strip passes over a tension roller it! at the end of lever 3E2 pivotally mounted on the reel support bracket, then passes or is drawn between two vertically positioned upper and lower guide rollers 383 and 3, to extend fiatwise in a horie zontal manner into the band feeder head H6. The feeder head comprises a horizontally positioned grooved roller 3i5, fulcrumed on the cam support bracket 132, over which the band strip passes to be guided into a guldeway 386 formed between the end of a finger 31'! mounted stationary on the bracket and the free end of a movable finger 3|8 pivotally mounted on said bracket, wherein the finger is secured to a pin :19 rotatably mounted in a bearing an of the bracket. The movable finger is resiliently urged toward the stationary finger by a compression spring 32! extending from the bracket to engage an arm 322 mounted on the end of the pin 3H. In the wall portion of the band guideway, in the side of the stationary finger, is a recess 323, in which is? positioned a pad 324 of felt or other similar material, to which is supplied a liquid adhesive for applying the adhesive film to the side of the band strip as it is being drawn through the guideway in the positioning of a band in a capping head. For supplying the liquid adhesive to the pad, a duct 325 is provided in the stationary finger which is in communication, at the end of the finger, with a flexible conduit 326 extending from a tank 321, mounted on the feeder support head, for containing a supply of the adhesive. In the conduit is a valve 328 for regulating the amount of adhesive to be supplied to the pad.

The movable finger of the band feeder head is operated to withdraw the band strip out of contact with the adhesive supply pad intermittently, so that the adhesive will be applied to the strip in sections, as seen in Fig. 23, which sections are so spaced that upon the strip being out therebetween, in forming the bands, the adhesive film on the bands extends to within a short distance of the ends thereof, so that the band ends will not adhere to the clamp of the band positioning means of the die head of a capping device, or the band holding means of the twister head. thereof. For operating the band feeder head movable finger in the manner stated, the finger is moved outward for a given length of time, by means of a cam #30, mounted on the arcuate segment H8 around a common axis, each having means rej cessed toward the direction of travel for receiving and supporting blank caps, and means for shaping the caps from blank form over the necks of containers, and unitary means for feeding the blanks to the devices at a fixed station.

2. In a machine for applying hood-caps of thin sheet material to containers, a plurality of devices arranged about and mounted to rotate around a common axis, each having means recessed toward the direction of travel for receiving and supporting blank caps, and means for shaping the caps from blank form over the necks of containers, and unitary means for feeding the material in stgip form and cutting same into blanks and arranged whereby the cut blanks are placed in' cooperative relation with the devices upon rotation thereof.

3. In a machine for applying hood caps of thin sheet material to containers; a plurality of movable devices, each device having slotted means for positioning a cap in blank form in cooperative relation with a container and means for forming same over the, container neck; means for feeding cap blanks to the positioning means of said devices at a fixed station during movement of the device; and means for feeding a binder band to said forming means at a fixed station.

, 4. In a container hood cap applylng machine having a plurality of movable cap forming and applying devices, each device having an open thin sheet material to containers, a plurality of cap forming and applying devices arranged about and mounted to rotate around a common axis, each device having an element horizontally recessed for receiving a cap in blank form, unitary means for feeding the material in strip form and cutting same into blanks and arranged whereby the cut blanks are positioned in cooperative relation with the recesses to be received therein upon rotation of the devices and means cooperating with said horizontally recessed element for forming the blanks on said containers.

6. In a machine for applying hood-caps of thin sheet material to containers, a plurality of capping heads arranged about and mounted to rotate around a common axis, each having an element with a recess open toward the direction of travel of the capping head for receiving and supporting a cap in blank form and cap forming mechanism, and means for feeding a cap blank into the path of each recess so as to be received therein and formed upon acontainer upon rotation of the capping heads. 7

7. In a machine for applying hood-caps of thin sheet material to containers, a plurality of capping heads arranged about and mounted to rotate around a common axis, each having an element with a recess open toward the direction of travel of the capping head for receiving andsupporting a cap in blank form, and means for feeding the material in strip form and cutting same into cap blanks and arranged whereby the out blanks are positioned inthe path of the recesses so as to be received therein upon rotation of the capping heads.

8. In a machine for applying hood-caps of thin sheet material to containers, a plurality of cap applying devices arranged about and mounted to rotate around a common axis, each device having an element with a recess open toward the direction of travel of the device for receiving and supporting a cap in blank form, and means for feeding the material in strip form intermittently the amount ofa cap blank and arranged whereby the fed portion is positioned in the path of a recess so as to be received therein upon rotation of the devices, and means for cutting the strip to form the blank in the recess'upon being received therein.

9. In a machine for applying hood-caps to containers, a plurality of cap forming and applyingdevices arranged about and mounted to rotate around a common axis, each device having an element with a recess open toward the direction of travel of the devices for receiving a cap in blank form, means for feeding the cap blanks in connected strip formation and arranged whereby a blank is positioned in the path of a recess so as to be received therein upon rotation of the devices, and means for disconnecting" the positioned blank from the strip.

10. In a machine for applying hood-caps of thin sheet material to containers, a cap forming and applying device mounted to move in a fixed path and having an element with a recess open toward the direction of travel of the device for receiving a cap in blank form, a reciprocating feeder head having gripper means for gripping the material instrip form at the end and at a distance inward therefrom greater than a cap blank and adapted to feed the strip portion between the gripping means into the path of the recess so as to be received therein upon movement of the device, and means for cutting the strip to form the blank in the recess upon being received therein.

11. In a machine for forming hood-caps from blanks on containers, a plurality of cap forming heads, a blank feeder head, and means for moving the forming heads and the feeder head into cooperative relation to supply the blanks to the forming heads said blank feeder head having means cooperating therewith to suspend the blanks in the path of said forming heads.

12. In a machine for forming hood-caps from blanks on containers, a rotatable support, a plurality of cap forming heads mounted on the support about its axis, a blank feeder head movable into cooperative relation with the forming heads to supply blanks thereto, and means engaging the advanced end of said blanks to suspend said blanks in the path of said forming heads.

13. In a machine for forming hood-caps from blanks on containers, a rotatable support, a plurality of cap forming heads mounted on the support about its axis, and a blank feeding device arranged whereby the blanks are suspended for cooperative relation with the cap forming heads to supply the blanks thereto.

14. In a machine for' applying hood-caps to containers, a plurality of cap applying heads means for moving the applying heads and feeder head into cooperative relation to supply the bands to the applying heads.

15. In a machine for applying hood-caps to containers, a rotatable support, a plurality of cap applying heads mounted on the support about its axis and each head having means for securing a binder band about a cap on a container, and a band feeder head arranged in cooperative relation with the applying heads to supply bands thereto.

16. The combination with a container hoodcap applying machine having a plurality of cap applying heads arranged about and mounted to rotate around a common axis, each head having means for securing a binder band about a cap on a container including means for positioning a band to be secured, of means for feeding bands to the positioning means of the devices at a fixed station of the heads during rotation thereof.

17. In a container hood-cap applying machine, a plurality of cap applying devices mounted for rotation around a common axis, said cap applying devices having means for wrapping a binder band about a cap on a container including means for clamping one end of the band, means for applying an adhesive film to said band and uni- ,tary means for feeding the band and 'positioning the end thereof into cooperative relation with the clamping means.

18. In a container hood-cap applying machine, a plurality of cap applying heads arranged about and mounted to rotate around a common axis, each head having means for wrapping a binder band about a cap on a container, including means for clamping one end of the band, and means for feeding bands from acommon source and positioned or arranged whereby the bands are disposed in cooperative relation with said clamping means upon movement of the heads to be engaged thereby.

19. In a container hood-cap applying machine, a plurality of cap applying heads arranged about and mounted to rotate around a common axis, each head having means for securing abinder band about a cap on a container, band forming means associated with each head, and unitary .means for feeding band material to the forming means ofthe heads.

20. In a machine for applying hood caps to bottles, a plurality of cap applying heads arranged about and mounted to rotate around a common axis, a'supply for a web of hood material, means for forwarding the web, means to form notches in at least one side of the web,

least one side of the web, means for severing the web at the notched portion, and means for conforming .the severed blank to a bottle.

22. In a machine for applying hood' caps to bottles, a plurality of cap applying heads arranged about and mounted to rotate around a common axis, a supply for a web of hood material, means for forwarding theweb, notching cutters operative to cut notches in at least one side of the web, means for severing the web at the notched portion, and means for applying the severed blank over the mouth of a bottle.

23. In a machine for applying hood caps to containers, a plurality of cap applying heads having means for securing a binder band about the cap on a container, a single means for supplying caps in blank form to said heads, a unitary band feeder head, and means for moving the applying heads and feeder head into cooperative relation to supply the bands to the applying means.

24. In a machine for applying hood caps to containers, a rotatable support, a plurality of cap applying heads mounted on the support about its axis,'each head having means for securinga binderband about a cap on a container, a single means for feeding caps in blank form to said heads, and a band feeder head arranged in cooperative relation with the applying heads to supply bands, thereto.

25. In a container hood cap applying machine,

a plurality of cap applying heads arranged about warding the web to said devices seriatim; means to form notches in at least one side of the web; means for severing the web at the notched porbottles, a plurality of cap applying devices; a.

supply for a web of hood material; means for forwarding the web to said devices seriatim; means to form notches in at least one side of the web; means for severing the web at the notched portion to form blanks; means to actuate said devices to conform the severed blanks to the bottles; and means to apply binder bands to said formed blanks to secure the same on said bottles.

28. In a mechanism for mechanically applying skirted caps to bottles, the combination of a plurality oi bottle supports mounted to rotate about a common axis; a conveyor adapted to convey bottles to be positioned on said rotary supports; a plurality of cap applying heads, one corresponding to each bottle support; a single source of supply of cap material adapted to be fed to said heads; means to sever a cap blank from said source for each bottle; means to suspend said blank in said head adapted to be applied over the mouth of a bottle; means to cause relative movement between a bottle support and its corresponding capping head; means to conform said blank over the mouth of said bottle and secure the same in place thereon; and means to discharge the capped bottles seriatim from said rotary supports.

29. In a mechanism for mechanically applying skirted caps to bottles, the combination of a rotary table having a plurality of bottle supports mounted thereon and adapted to rotate about a common axis; a bottle conveyor; timing means adapted to transfer bottles from said conveyor to said. rotary supports seriatim; a plurality of cap applying heads, one corresponding to each bottle support;- a single source of supply of thin cap material adapted to be fed to said heads; means to sever a cap blank from said source for each bottle; said meansincluding a cutting edge over which said thin material is severed into blanks; means to suspend a cut blank in saidhead adapted to be applied over the mouth of a bottle; means to cause relative movement between a bottle support and its corresponding capping head; means to conform said blank over the mouth of said bottle and secure the same in place thereon; and means to discharge the capped bottles seriatim' from said rotary supp rts.

- 30. In a mechanism for applying and sealing skirted caps on bottles, the combination of a plurality of cap applying heads; means to rotate said heads about a common axis; means associated with each head to suspend a blank of thin sheet material in position with respect to said head, and above the mouth of a bottle to be sealed; means for causing relative movement between a bottle and its corresponding head;

-means associated with each head for folding a portion of the blank into skirt form; means to compress said cap into engagement with an ex-- terior surface of the bottle; means to seal said cap on the bottle, and means to discharge sealed bottles from said mechanism.

31. In a machine for forming hood caps from blanks on containers, a rotatable support, a plurality of cap forming heads and corresponding container holders mounted on the support about its axis, a source of supply of cap material in strip form, means to sever blanks from said strip material, and a blank feeding device arranged whereby blanks are suspended for cooperative relation with the cap forming heads to supply the blanks'thereto.

32, In a mechanism tor applying and sealing skirted caps on bottles, the combination of a plurality of cap applying heads; means to rotate said heads about a common axis; a source of supply oi. cap material in strip form; means to sever blanks from said strip material; means associated with each head to suspend a blank of thin sheet material in position with respect to said head. and above the mouth of a bottle to be sealed; means for causing relative movement between a bottle and its corr p nding head; means associated with eachhead for folding a portion of the blank into skirt form; means to compress said cap into engagement with an exterior surface 01' the bottle; means to-seal said cap on the bottle, and meansfto discharge sealed bottles from said mechanism. JOEW H. NELSON. 

